24. Chapter 24

Chapter 2 4

Lacey

I am the world's worst artist.

Giggles escape as I draw a stick figure on Skylar's back. He's lying face down on the bed while I'm straddling his waist, precariously balancing over him as I attempt to add another stick figure to the collection.

"How long does this take to wash off?"

He shifts beneath me, "A couple days, normally. A week at most."

The thought of Skylar walking around with my hideous drawing for a week has laughter bursting out of me.

"Do I want to know what you're doing back there?"

"Shh, I'm working."

When Skylar offered me the chance to draw on him, I didn't know what to think. It was obvious he was doing it to help me relax, but I didn't see how scribbling ink all over his body was going to reduce my anxiety.

Turns out, drawing on someone else is really fun.

A smile lights up my face as I give my stick figures some clothes. It wasn't just the art that helped to reduce my stress, it was Skylar himself. He didn't just give me free reign to mark his skin, he also gave me time and space to get comfortable being naked around him.

There isn't a scrap of material on my body and yet the discomfort from earlier is nowhere to be found.

More giggles float out of my mouth as I write our names under each one. Drawing a little heart to connect the two, I re-cap the marker with a flourish.

"All done."

He shifts beneath me and I quickly scramble to the end of the bed so he can sit up. The stick figures ripple along his back as he pushes himself off the bed and the sight has my face breaking into a wide smile.

"I think I outdid myself."

Skylar glances at me with bright eyes before walking over to the mirror hanging on the far wall. He studies the drawing, twisting his spine so he can read the two names scrawled underneath each figure.

"Am I the one on the left or right?"

I laugh, climbing off the bed and walking over, "You're the one with short hair. Here, let me show you. "

He watches me through the mirror, his eyes following my fingers when I gently brush stick figure number one.

"This is Skylar. He's an unbelievably fast runner but pretends he doesn't exercise very often."

He huffs out a laugh and I feel it vibrate through my fingertips. Trailing my hand along his skin, I gently tap stick figure number two.

"And this is Lacey. She's a terrible runner but pretends reading counts as cardio." I smile, tracing the warped shape linking the two figures, "And this is our heart. Broken when we're apart but perfectly complete when we're together."

Skylar meets my gaze in the mirror, his eyes a beacon of happiness when that beautiful face breaks into a smile. My heart slams against my chest as I stare at him, stare at the boy I saw in that photograph all those weeks ago.

The one who shared his joy with every facial muscle.

"You have the prettiest smile." I whisper, wrapping my arms around his waist, "It takes my breath away every time."

Pressing a kiss against his neck, I wait for those mesmerizing eyes to meet mine.

One brown. One blue.

Each one glistening with an untold story, the sacrifice and struggle of a boy learning to love himself again.

"You're the real work of art, Skylar Vin. I hope you know that."

He swallows, looking at me like I just sliced his chest open and stole the organ beating inside. Pressing another kiss against his neck, I slide my hand up to his heart, leaving my own mark on his body.

"This is my favourite part of you. This ugly thing that keeps us alive." Pressing my fingers down, I can feel the fragments of my own heart beating underneath, "I know it hurts sometimes but that's what makes it beautiful. That's what makes it mine."

Skylar slowly turns around, his eyes alight with so many emotions it's impossible to distinguish a single one. My hand is still pressed against his chest, the accelerated beat of our heart thundering against my fingers.

"I've always been yours, Flower." His eyes are locked on mine, the light and dark iris teasing me with endless opportunities, "I just didn't know it until I read your handwriting for the first time."

I laugh, feeling my eyes start to well-up, "I thought for sure my pen pal was a girl."

"A middle-aged cat woman, if I remember correctly."

I laugh again, the tears flowing freely as I look at the perfectly broken boy who had been waiting for me.

"Do you want me to tell you a secret?"

"Always."

"I'm really glad you didn't turn out to be a girl."

Skylar starts to laugh, the boisterous sound echoing off the walls of his bedroom. It's a beautiful sound, loud and carefree, and soon I'm laughing right alongside him.

"Alright, it's your turn."

"You want me to tell you a secret? "

I shake my head, wiping the tears from my eyes, "Not this time."

Grabbing his hand, I pull him back to the bed. I snatch up the marker from the duvet and pass it over.

"It's your turn to draw on me."

Skylar takes the marker without a word. Making myself comfortable on his bed, I lie flat on my back and brace myself for the fear to set in.

But it never does.

My breath flows easily through my lungs as I watch Skylar study me quietly. There's an unspoken question in his eyes, the need for reassurance that I suddenly find myself being able to give.

"I'm ready."

The honesty of those words fall between us, the smile lighting up my face serving as encouragement for Skylar to start drawing. He takes a step closer, reaching out to take my hand. Pressing down the tip of the marker, he wraps a vine around my ring finger before starting the slow trek upward.

True to his word, he connects every freckle, branching them all together in a stunning array of blooming flora and fallen leaves. Tending to my body like I tend to my plant babies, Skylar devotes time and attention to each new piece of skin he comes across, treating me as though I am something to be treasured.

The marker glides across my skin in effortless strokes, leaving a beautiful design on a broken girl. Skylar doesn't say anything while he works, he simply lets his hands and ink serve as a reminder.

I am a flower worth waiting for.

Skylar

The sunshine tissue digs into my hands as I leave my therapist's building.

It's a habit I've gotten into, stealing a bright yellow tissue on my way out the door. I used to use them as a way to escape the dark thoughts of my past. It worked for a while, but then I met this mystery girl named Lacey.

And she turned my life upside down.

Nowadays, these tissues are only used for the floral drawings I gift her. I do it for selfish reasons, so I can watch the excitement light up her eyes, but I also do it as a thank you. A hidden message to let her know just how much colour she brought back into my life.

Just how much colour she brought back in me.

Winter has arrived in Silverwood and the crisp air bites through the sweater I stupidly decided to wear today. The walk from Karen's sessions to my house is less than fifteen minutes, but based on the goosebumps covering my flesh, it's going to feel a lot longer.

"Learn to ski this season, Ellsworth, and maybe your ass won't get so bruised."

I pause, hearing the familiar voice of Stella O'Brien. Turning towards the parking lot, I spy her standing in front of her boyfriend, hands planted on her hips. Taber's old lacrosse captain grins, his blonde fauxhawk standing just as tall as it did the day I bumped into him.

"If you didn't insist on finishing every ski day with a race, I wouldn't feel the need to impress you."

Stella scoffs, flicking a long braid over her shoulder, "You couldn't impress me if you tried."

"That's not what you said last night."

The couple stare each other down for less than five seconds before they both crack up. I still haven't been able to figure out the dynamics of their relationship, but arguing seems to be their preferred type of foreplay.

Forcing my feet to turn in their direction, I don't stop walking until I'm right in front of them.

"Vin." Stella gives me a cool nod, "Good to see one member of your family is getting the help he needs."

The words are sharp, but I don't let the sting deter me. Turning to Cody, I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans and make eye contact.

"It doesn't make it right but I'm sorry. For what Vector did to you." I swallow, forcing myself not to look away, "My brother shouldn't have been on the field that day and you bore the consequence of his actions."

Cody blinks, his brown eyes just as kind as the first time I saw them.

"It's Skylar, right?"

"Yeah. "

He smiles, "There's nothing to apologize for. Your brother kicked my ass on the lacrosse field, but that's part of playing a contact sport."

The familiar surge of guilt hits me.

"Vector takes contact to an extreme level."

"He sure does. But that doesn't change the fact he's an amazing player."

Stella grumbles something under her breath and he glances at her, "Getting my head bashed in helped me re-evaluate my priorities. I'm not going to thank your brother for cracking a few ribs, but if it wasn't for him, my own story would have looked very different."

"I'm still sorry you got hurt."

Cody shrugs, "I'm not. It meant I got to see how much my gym buddy missed me."

Stella crosses her arms with a huff, "I didn't miss you in the slightest."

"Is that why Stephen said you were always talking about me?"

"Stephen is delusional."

He laughs, looking back at me, "Anyways, the point is there is nothing to feel bad about. My face and ribs healed just fine and now I get to be tormented by the shortest girl at Taber University."

Stella gasps, reaching out to punch his arm, "I am not the shortest girl at Taber."

"You're right. Just the most competitive. "

She goes to punch him again but Cody dodges with a quick step to the side.

He shoots me another grin, "I'll see you at the Tigers' next game, Skylar. Apparently you're the only one who understands lacrosse."

Warmth seeps through my chest, the sincerity in his tone making me want to pinch myself.

Stella sighs, turning to me, "I'm not as easy going as Ellsworth, but I'll try not to hate on your family as much. It was really thoughtful of you to apologize."

"It was the right thing to do."

"That doesn't mean you had to do it." She studies me for a moment, "You've come a long way, Vin. Don't go back to keeping your head down."

"I won't."

Turning on my heel, I walk out of the parking lot, leaving one less demon behind me. It doesn't change what I did, the repercussions my silence had on the victims of Vector's drug-fuelled temper, but it does lighten the weight in my chest.

My phone rings just as I'm walking through the front door, absolutely freezing and in desperate need of a hot shower.

"You won't believe what I found today."

Lacey's excited voice echoes through the phone and suddenly I can't think of a single thing more important than listening to her voice.

"A purple succulent?"

She laughs, "I already have one of those. "

"A new purple succulent?"

More laughter flows through my phone as I take off my shoes, giving my mom a wave as I walk through the kitchen.

"No, silly. I found the spring sign up sheet for the track team."

I pause, "Silverwood doesn't have a second round of tryouts."

"That's because it would be in Taber. I already checked and students are allowed to compete from different schools because technically it's a club not a varsity team."

"Flower. You realize I'm the rival."

"You could be the Saber in disguise. Then come fall you could join the varsity team at Silverwood and kick ass."

Laughter bursts from my chest, "You want me to trojan horse the track and field team?"

"Why not? This way there's no pressure to keep going if you don't enjoy it."

"I'll think about it."

"Good." She blows a raspberry through the phone and hangs up. I laugh again, knowing the first thing she'll do tonight is apologize for not saying a proper goodbye.

Movement shifts in my peripheral and I turn to see my mom staring at me with glistening eyes.

"Mom. What's wrong?"

She limps closer, tears spilling onto her cheeks as she reaches out and touches my face.

"Nothing's wrong, honey."

"Why are you crying? "

Her hands cradle my face, those pale blue eyes glistening back at me.

"You're smiling."

I freeze, staring at the tears sliding down her face.

"I didn't know if I would ever see it again." Her fingers brush my lips, memorizing the upward curve, "My baby boy's beautiful smile."

Amber's tears continue to fall as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close. It's a routine we used to do a lot, her sobs filling the kitchen while I stitched her back together, but this time it's different.

This time I'm different.

"It's okay, Mom." I whisper the same reassurance I did all those years ago, except this time I'm doing it with a full heart, "We're going to be okay."

She clutches me tightly, hearing the one thing that was always missing.

Hope.